What Today’s Nurses Can Learn From Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail

Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail lived from January 27, 1903 to December 25, 1981. She was born on the Crow Reservation in Pryor, Montana. She was a strong advocate for the rights of Indigenous Americans in the healthcare system, especially for Indigenous women. We know her today as the Grandmother of American-Indian Nurses.

Throughout her life, Yellowtail gained notoriety amongst Indigenous communities and the U.S. government for her important work. Keep reading to learn about her tumultuous and inspirational story, and what today’s nurses can learn from her dedication to her people.

Yellowtail’s Culture

Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail was a part of the Crow Nation, also known as the Apsáalooke, or Children of the Large Beaked Bird. Their homelands extend across Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Today, they reside on a reservation in southeastern Montana. They were famous for having some of the largest horse herds in the northern Great Plains and elaborate regalia honoring horses.

Yellowtail’s Upbringing

Yellowtail’s mother was Sioux and her father was Crow — both died by the time she was 12 years old. Like many Indigenous children, Yellowtail was forced to attend a boarding school intended to assimilate them to mainstream U.S. culture by repressing their own.

Although little is recorded about her life in that boarding school, we can imagine what it was like based on patterns shared by others. Indigenous children were separated from their families, forced to cut their hair and discard their traditional clothing, punished for speaking their own languages, and forced to practice Christianity. Daily life in these schools often resembled that of the military, such as wearing uniforms and walking in formations. Punishments were harsh when rules were broken, and children often endured various forms of abuse.

Yellowtail was later adopted and removed from the school by a Baptist missionary, and she eventually enrolled in a nursing program, receiving her degree in 1927. After gaining hands-on experience, she returned to the reservation on which she was born.

Yellowtail’s Accolades

Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail experienced a great deal in her youth, but that was only the beginning. She went on to be awarded the President’s Award for Outstanding Nursing in 1962, inducted into the Montana Hall of Fame in 1987, and the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 2002.

What Did Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail Do and What Can Nurses Learn From Her?

Keep reading to learn more about Yellowtail’s accomplishments and how today’s nurses can apply aspects of her amazing life to their own.

1. Stay True to Yourself and Forge Your Own Path

Despite growing up in a boarding school that discouraged everything Indigenous, Yellowtail retained her language and culture. How could she have made such a deep impact on the welfare of Indigenous people without keeping a firm grasp on her traditions?

Her resolve facilitated her ability to train non-Indigenous healthcare professionals on cultural competency to improve patients’ experiences. She also used traditional midwifery knowledge to help birthing mothers who didn’t feel safe in conventional medical hospitals. Yellowtail also advocated for traditional healers to be involved in caring for hospitalized patients.

Yellowtail offered a unique perspective on health, which can remind us that we all have important perspectives to offer. You don’t have to give that up to fit in. You can make impactful changes that might not have occurred to others in your workplace.

If a situation doesn’t sit right with your ethics, take time to express yourself to your manager. If you are passionate about both conventional and holistic medicine, you can use your specialized knowledge through nursing entrepreneurship. It’s important to balance feeling at home in your work culture while ensuring your nursing career aligns with who you truly are.

2. Trailblaze and Speak Up for Change

After observing the appalling situations the Crow people endured in the medical system, Yellowtail documented the experiences of other Indigenous groups. The same disturbing patterns persisted: language barriers between tribal elders and healthcare workers, Indigenous children dying as a result of lack of access to care, Indigenous women being sterilized without their consent, and healthcare workers not being mindful of their patients’ cultural backgrounds.

Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail dedicated her life to ensuring the often-ignored voices of Indigenous people were finally heard. Due to her efforts, President John F. Kennedy appointed her to the Surgeon General’s Advisory Committee on Indian Health. She maintained this role during both the Johnson and Nixon administrations. This gave her the platform to amplify her voice and impact. That is only one of the many government positions she held. She also served in the following groups:

• U.S. Public Health Service’s Advisory Committee on Indian Health
• National Drug and Alcohol Abuse Committee
• Council on Indian Health, Education, and Welfare
• Federal Indian Health Advisory Committee
• State Advisory Council for Vocational Education

Yellowtail was also the first woman of Crow descent to graduate from nursing school, and one of the first Indigenous registered nurses. She founded the first Association for Indigenous Nurses, and was the first Indigenous nurse inducted into the Nursing Hall of Fame.

Whether it’s on behalf of your patients, coworkers, or yourself, communicate what’s being left unsaid. If it’s not you, then who? You deserve to be heard just like everyone else. Plus, you’d be surprised by how far the positive ripple effects can reach when you choose to speak up.

Do you notice certain needs in your workplace or community that aren’t being met? You have the opportunity to do something about it. You can start a committee addressing your concern or foster a culture of transparency by letting new nurses know it’s safe to come to you for advice. No matter how large or small, we can all trailblaze in our own ways.

3. Prioritize Yourself, Too

On top of everything Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail has done, she still made time to engage in activities she loved. Yellowtail was a part of an Indigenous dance troupe that performed internationally. She and other community leaders served as cultural ambassadors throughout Europe and the Middle East. She also passed time by creating eye-catching beadwork.

Engaging in activities that bring you joy is an important aspect of maintaining your mental and emotional health. This is especially important considering the somber situations nurses may encounter at work.

Do you love nature walks or reading a book with a cup of tea? How about dancing or traveling to new places? Ensure you make time for yourself the way you do for others. You matter. That reason is more than enough.

How Does Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail Inspire You?

It’s hard not to be impressed by Yellowtail’s life — and guess what? You can inspire other nurses in your own way. Bring what you’ve learned into your nursing career when you find the job that is right for you with help from IntelyCare.